Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen talks to the media in Hà Nội on January 9. — VNA/VNS Photo

OTTAWA — To further advance collaboration projects marking 30 years of Canada's development support for Việt Nam, the Vietnamese Trade Office in Canada recently held a working session with Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen.

In the meeting, the Canadian official emphasised the role of the Vietnamese community in the host country in fostering bilateral cooperation, and highlighted new opportunities for Vietnamese people and businesses, as well as Canadian enterprises to participate in significant projects in Việt Nam.

Canada's development assistance to Việt Nam began in the 1990s. To date, with nearly 200 programmes totaling US$1.35 billion, Canada has significantly contributed to poverty reduction, industrialisation, and modernisation efforts in Việt Nam. These projects have not only improved livelihoods but also built capacities for various communities and localities, aiming for inclusive and sustainable development.

In addition to projects targeting vulnerable groups such as women and marginalised communities, and those on enhancing national governance capacity, a standout feature of Canada's official development assistance (ODA) is to assist Vietnamese people in sharing their knowledge, skills, and goods with the world. Many improvements in the production of rice varieties, peanut, pomelo, dairy cattle, pig, and other crops and livestock have significantly increased the income of rural households participating in these projects.

Over the recent years, to support Việt Nam's industrialisation process and its combat against climate change, Canada has had many practical projects to support the Southeast Asian country in protecting the environment, managing pollution, and monitoring emissions. It is also a long-time partner in building industrial pollution management capacity for Việt Nam, helping address the impact of climate change and move towards sustainable economic growth.

Canada is also a source of experience in new technology and high-quality human resources training as well as of green finance supply, thus helping Việt Nam in its green economic transition process, said Hussen.

The minister shared that in early 2024, he chose Việt Nam as the first country in the Asia-Pacific to visit in his new position, showing his interest in strengthening the Canada-Việt Nam Comprehensive Partnership.

During this visit, he announced that Canada will continue to support Việt Nam with about $30 million for projects aimed at sustainable growth, helping Việt Nam expand trade and investment, increase supply chains' resilience, and build a green and sustainable future.

According to the minister, Canada's development assistance projects will create numerous opportunities for collaboration between businesses of both countries, particularly for technology and innovation firms operating in the fields of energy transition, renewable energy, and clean technology. These development support activities can bring about commercial cooperation opportunities and potential for businesses from both countries, he added. — VNS